CT Lawmakers demand info on state VA facilities

Washington – The entire Connecticut delegation sent a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki on Friday requesting information from a nationwide audit of VA facilities that pertain to hospitals and clinics in Connecticut.

“Although we have spoken with officials in Connecticut who have assured us that no problems were found with wait times during a recent national level inspection, we believe all our state’s medical facilities must be included in the ongoing audit and the results be made public promptly,” the delegation letter said. “We respectfully request full details of this audit, and specifically all details regarding the accuracy and duration of reported wait times for appointments at the West Haven Campus, Newington Campus and all six Community Based Outpatient Clinics located in Connecticut.

Shinseki is expected to present preliminary results of the audit to President Obama next week.

The audit, and a separate inspector general investigation into the veterans’ medical system, was touched off by reports that hospitals in Arizona and Colorado had falsified documents to hide long wait times for care. The delays may have resulted in the deaths of some veterans.

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WASHINGTON – One Connecticut lawmaker decided to skip his speech to a joint session of Congress and others had differing reactions to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu’s forceful condemnation of U.S. efforts to reach an agreement with Iran over nuclear weapons.

Washington – Saying he is "disrespectful to President Obama, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, had a change of heart and decided to skip Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu’s speech Tuesday to a joint chamber of Congress.

“After startling allegations regarding delayed care and falsified records at VA facilities made earlier this month, it is of utmost importance that the people’s faith in the VA, including our local VA hospitals, be restored,”said Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal said “the more I learn of misconduct and impropriety at VA facilities around the country involving falsified wait lists and widespread treatment delays potentially causing deaths and injuries , the more concerned and outraged I become.”

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WASHINGTON – One Connecticut lawmaker decided to skip his speech to a joint session of Congress and others had differing reactions to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu’s forceful condemnation of U.S. efforts to reach an agreement with Iran over nuclear weapons.

Washington – The scandal at the Veterans Affairs Administration has done what little else could do in Congress – bring Democrats and Republicans together on a bill.
Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, and John MCain, R-Ariz., announced an agreement late Thursday afternoon that combined elements of three separate bills aimed at reforming the VA, which is under investigation because of allegations that staff had covered up delays in the providing care to veterans and other wrongdoing.

The health care landscape is changing, and legislators are trying to figure out how to respond to an industry that is at once a top employer in many communities and a big driver of health care costs that are straining state, local and business budgets. Hospital officials say some of the proposals so far would take the state backwards.

WASHINGTON – One Connecticut lawmaker decided to skip his speech to a joint session of Congress and others had differing reactions to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu’s forceful condemnation of U.S. efforts to reach an agreement with Iran over nuclear weapons.

WASHINGTON – One Connecticut lawmaker decided to skip his speech to a joint session of Congress and others had differing reactions to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu’s forceful condemnation of U.S. efforts to reach an agreement with Iran over nuclear weapons.

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